Device for removing ledgers



No. 625,654. Patented May 23, I899. J.-DURMAN. DEVICE FOR REMOVING LEDGERS, BOARDS, OR THE LIKE.

IQ Application filed Sept. 29, 1898.

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT ()FFIG JAMES DORMAN, OF LAWVRENOE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE REMOVING LEDGERS, BOARDS, OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,654, dated May 23, 1899. Application filed September 29, 1898. Serial No. 692,230. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES DORMAN, of Lawrence, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Devices for Removing Ledgers, Boards, or the Like, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

In knocking down masons or builders scaffolds it is the common practice to insert a straight crowbar or the like beneath the ledger or board to be removed, with the point of the bar against the upright pole or support on the side to which the board is nailed, after which the free end of the bar is pulled toward the operator and the board yanked off, usually with its end split and leaving one or more nails in the pole. Scarc'ely more satisfactory in operation is the device which is used at times in place of the crow-' bar and which consists of a bar bent back upon itself for a few inches at one end to form a narrow hook which is drawn down upon the board and there turned about the longitudinal axis of the board, the upper edge of the board turning against the pole as a f ulcrum, while the board is distorted by the unevenly-applied torsion and the nails bent, if drawn, but more frequently left in the pole by the splitting of the board.

My invention has for its object the provision of a powerful and easily-manipulated device by which scaffold-lodgers or similar boards or the like may be removed from their poles or other supports intact without undue distortion and with the nails unbent and'in condition for further use.

The various features of my invention will be illustrated and described fully in the accompanying drawings and specification and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a scaffold-pole or upright support with a horizontal board or ledger to which a device embodying my invention is shown in process of application for purposes of removal. Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, aview similar to Fig. 1, showing the device and board in their relative positions after operation of the device; and Fig. 4, a detail view in perspective of a part of the device, to whichreference will be made hereinafter.

In the drawings the part lettered A represents a pole or upright support of a builders scaifold, while B designates one of the horizontal boards, called ledgers, which extend from pole to pole, forming the lateral braces of the scaffold and being usuallynailed to the poles, as at G. This portion of the scaffold will be sufficient to venable those skilled in the art to understand readily the operation of my invention, such a scaflold being of course merely typical of the various uses to which my invention is applicable, it being understood that I do not restrict myself to its use as a ledger-removing device.

In the form of construction selected as a convenient one for illustration and description in explaining the essential features of my invention D designates a structure which in operation is virtuallya lever of the second class and which I will call the primary lever, its lower end d beingfulcrumed against the pole A below the board 13 and on the side of the pole-to which theboard is nailed. From the fulcrum the lever is extended upwardly behind the boardi. e., on the side of the latter adjacentthe support to which the board is nailed-and at its free end, preferably above the board or onthe other side from the fulcrum, the lever is adapted to'receive the power. i

The form of the power-applying member of the device may be varied somewhat in practice, but I have found one convenient form to consist of the member illustrated, the same consisting of another lever of the second class joined to the member D at its free end, the second lever, which I have designated by the reference-letter E, having preferably an anti friction device provided upon that portion of the lever which bears against the fulcrum, the said fulcrum being afiorded by the upright pole A. The portion of the lever F. to bear against the fulcrum is preferably offset from the line joining the handle of the lever i. e., that part to which the power is to be ap plied-and the joint between the lever E and the free end of the lever D, so that as the handleof the lever E is rotated about an axis passing through said joint the bearing portion of the lever E will come into contact with the fulcrum when the lever is about to reach an angle of ninety degrees with the pole or upright A, and as the handle continues to be moved through its upward path that portion of the lever which is united to the free end of the lever D will be cramped outwardly from the pole or fulcrum, carrying with it the free end of the lever D, which in turn exerts upon the ledger or board B a force sufficient to re move the latter, drawing the nails or fastening means 0 from the pole without bending them in a manner which will prevent their future use, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 3, wherein it will be seen that the board B is but slightly warped and is freed entirely at its lower edge from the pole A.

I have found in practice that the first-mentioned lever D, or primary lever, may be in the form of a yoke having side pieces cl and an end piece 01, the free ends of the side pieces being provided with eyes (1 or other suitable means for permitting union with the secondary lever E. When such a yoke-lever is used, the secondary lever E may take conveniently the form illustrated, its connection with the yoke being effected in the instance illustrated by forking one end of the lever, as at e, and providing the arms of the fork with suitable lugs or projections e e to enter and cooperate with the eyes or bearing portions (1 to which reference has already been made, in the lever D. Preferably these projec'tions will be extended in the same direction to facilitate separation of the two levers in order that the arms (1 of the yoke D may be introduced behind the ledger-board B. Suitable means to prevent separation of the levers normally may be provided-as, for example, the cotter-pin f.

As already indicated, the portion of the lever E which is to find its seat against the fulcrum is preferably offset from the end e e of the lever E, and such an offset is illustrated in the form of a foot a the latter being provided with a friction-roller e, to receive which it is preferably forked, having suitable bearings e to receive the axle e of the antifriotion device.

When the lever D has been inserted behind the board or its equivalent B and the lever E has been connected, with its projections e in place within the eye-bearingsd the leverhandle E is raised until it reaches the dottedline position shown in Fig. l, and the upward movement is continued in a manner readily understood u ntil the lever-handle reaches sub stantially the position shown in Fig. 3, with the result already noted.

The principle upon which my device is con structed and its operation are most simple, as an inspection of the drawings and description will demonstrate, and While I have found the form of construction illustrated a convenient one and Ieflicient in practice I do not limit myself to the exact details illustrated, since the same may be varied widely without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A device of the class described, comprising the following instrumentalities, viz: a work-engaging member comprising a pair of arms rigidly connected together at one end and free at the other, and spaced sufficiently apart from each other to embrace a beam or scantling; and an operating lever or member having an antifriction bearing surface or projection and having a slip pivot connection with the free ends of the other member.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a work-engaging member having a plurality of work-engaging portions connected rigidly together near one end, of

an operating member therefor, comprising a v handle provided near one end with a fork between the arms whereof is mounted a frictionroll; and means by which, when said members are brought together by a lateral movement, simultaneous engagement of the arms of said fork with the face ends of said work-engaging portions maybe effected to enable said operating member to actuate said work-engaging member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES DORMAN. Witnesses:

ALEXANDER C. PROUDFIT, J OHN C. EDWARDS. 

